Review – The House on Foster Hill

Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather’s Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house’s dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide.

A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy’s search leads her into dangerous waters and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives–including her own–are lost? My thoughts:  This is another one of those books that I didn’t order (the cover scared me off) but it showed up in my mailbox. I was willing to give it a try. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, right? We all do though. At least initially. That is what makes us pick it up to look closer.

So, I started reading. Okay, this book lost me on the creepy factor.  I was totally scared off in the first chapter. Husband, Steve, however, fell in love with the cover and is now reading creepy book. (Rest of review by Steve)

Kaine Prescott needed a break. The stress of her job counseling (rescuing?) abused women was taking its toll, and creating interesting life experiences with the men from whom they were rescued.  Including threats, intimidation, psychological warfare and physical confrontations.

Buying a house, sight unseen, based on the recommendation of a friend of a friend, probably wasn’t a good way to begin.  And when she finds out that her family has a “history” with the dark mansion, she begins to question her sanity.

And yet Kaine finds herself waking up.  Waking up to friendship . . . to romance . . . to love?  Waking up to faith.  Waking up to hope. Waking up to the realization that God is more than just a name in a book that she hasn’t opened in a long time.  And by the time the last chapter has been written, the reader is going to come to the same realization.

Traveling through time is possible.  It’s also exhausting, and emotionally draining.  And it’s one of the most effective means of ensuring that you have a totally captive audience.  Brava, Jaime Jo Wright!  You’ve succeeded.

While I’ve read books that have employed this formula before, I’ve never seen it articulated so effectively, or so seamlessly.  This is a large book, close to 400 pages.  However, every page, every paragraph, contributes to the flow of the story.  Soon, you will ask yourself, “Am I reading . . . or am I experiencing events along with the other characters?”

One other detail worth mentioning . . . the house is a character, as well.  And the house grows and develops much as the other characters in the story.  I’ve always found such details to be the trademark of some of the most excellent literature.  This is Jaime Jo Wright’s debut novel . . . and I’m looking forward to many more stories from this gifted author.

5 stars for a story that will hold you until the very last page.